Player-piano case



S 1930- w. E. JAINSSEYN 1,774,514

' PLAYER PIANO CASE Filed Oct. 11, .1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l vwemboz p 2, 1930. w. E. JANS SEN 1,774,514

. I PLAYER PIANO CASE Filed Oct. 11, 1928 2 Shouts-Sheet 2 fiy r/ 4 a V VZESfERE fiYNJJE/M Patented Sept. 2, 1930 PATENT OFFICE WEBSTER E. JANSSEN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

PLAYER-PIANO CASE Application filed October 11, 1928.

My invention relates to layer-piano cases for enclosing the usual p ayer-piano action and keys, and more particularly for such piano cases embodying the customary equipmerit and attachments for a writing desk or secretary, into which the player-piano case may be converted at will.

The objects of my invention are, among other things, to provide a new and improved In player-piano case of this combined type for an upright piano in which the various parts usually embodied in a player-piano as well as in a collapsible writing desk are conveniently and compactly arranged within the custommy outline or contour of the writing desk so that this improved player-piano case may be readily transformed from a writing desk to a piano case in open position for manual or note-sheet playing, and vice versa, with a minimum movement and coaction of parts in the two devices whichare disposed so asnot likely to get out of position.

A further feature is to provide an improved arrangement for the tracker-box and tubes located in the desk-top and leading to the player action proper carried in the lower part of the case, so that the upper part of the case or desk-top may be swung backwardly and held safely in disassembled position without in any way disturbing the proper register of the tubes connected with the row of holes in the tracker-bar when restored in operative position.

Such arrangement will permit of ready access to the various parts of the player-action with a minimum movement of the parts to enable tuning of the piano and other repairs to be made without in any way altering or disturbing the delicate arrangement of the tube system connected to the tracker, or disarranging the component parts of the secretary or writing-desk as a whole.

Further objects and advantages of my improved player-piano case will be hereinafter Serial No. 311,753.

set forth, and the drawings show a preferred embodiment of my invention in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation of my playerpiano case with the music rack in position;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation partly broken away in section 5 Fig. 3 is a side view with the upper part of the case swung backward to a horizontal po sition;

Fig. 4 is a side sectional View showing the inner arrangements of the piano case and writing-desk Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view of the tube junction-block connections for the player action with the tracker-bar; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the rear of the piano case showing the tube system in dis connected position.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several figures.

Referring to the drawings, the lower part of the player-piano case which embodies the player action and writing-desk parts comprises the side-pieces 7 mounted on the bot tom 8 supported by the feet 9 which rest on the floor. Two sets of side-drawers 10 are arranged adjacent the side-pieces 7 between which is the key-board 11. extending above the side-drawers 12. The rear panel 12 is arranged back of the drawers 10 and midway between the bottom 8 and key-board 11 (Fig. 4).

The playeraction proper is arranged back of the panel 12 and comprises the pumpingbellows 13 operated in the usual manner to provide exhaust pressure. In Fig. l I have shown the electric motor 14 mounted on. the bottom 8 to actuate the movable leaf 15 of the bellows 13 which is connected by the pipe 16 to the wind-chest 17. This windchest is connected in the usual manner to the series of action pneumatics 18 arranged on the cross-bracket 19, the action pneumatics 18 actuating the hammers 20 (only one being shown in Fig. 4) which strike the strings 21 he i 1 (re describe rower portion of the desist: "ac terbox 85 having the usual tr 3: and upper music roll 36 and oll 37 driven in the usual manner from the e.ectric motor 38 (Figs. 2 and l). The customary wind-motor for driving the rolls 5-16 and may be used instead of the electric motor 38. The note-sheet 39 registers witn the row of holes 4-0 cut in the trackerbar 35", and a series of short tubes 41 connect the tracker-holes lO with the nipples l2 fastened in holes d3 drilled in the vertical junction-block 41- (Fig. mounted in the rear of the desk-top 30.

The removable junction-block 2% is tastened snugly to the face 01? the junctionblock i l in a surtace-to-sm'tace contact by the screws so that each of the tubes lQfilSLGTS with its i'iorresponding tube ll (Fig. 5) whereby each of the tracker-holes it) is properly connected to its respective action pneumatic 5- when the parts are in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 4-. The junctionbloclr S and l t carry the perforated tacings 4t: ant "T respectively, preferably made of buck-slain to prevent any leakage when the two junction-blocks are fastened together as shown in Fig. The desk-top 30 is provided with two sets of folding hinged doors 4-8 and 1 i) l. the front of ne d sit-top 30 when required.

The hey-slip 50 extends horizontally below the. front edejcs of the piano keys 51, and is fastened to the hey-board ll in the usual manner. The piano keys 51 are connected by the Uostram's: I mechanism. all as siiown in Fig. a The crossbar 53 er; ends between the side-pieces '7 to which is hin 'eo the upper ttolda ile cover 54:.

tolded The lower cover 55 is hinged to the cover 54, and is foldable bacl: thereon to form the music-reel: with the music slip 55 attached to the lower exposed portion of the lower cover 55 (Fig. at). Hinged to the back oi the cover i l is the pivoted twoerm bracket 5? to support the music- 'aclz.

Referring more particularly to Fig. e, the writing-desk compartment comprising the pigeon-holes 58 is preferably formed as a unit and is attached to tlu e-pieces '4' by brackets 59 secured by the s one 60. This unit may be readily removed from the pla en piano case w ien any repairs or adjustment of the player act-ion becomes necessary.

Between the side-pioces T is the crossbar 61 e.:tending above the piano lze s 51 and. the inner end 62 of the desk-top slidably rests on the bar 61. The front edge of this inner end 62 is provided with a hinge 6 to which is fastened the outer desktop G-l which. when swung to a horizontally alined position with the inner end (32, forms a continuous flat surface for the WiitiligJlGSli. Fastened at right angles to the outer deslt top 641 the curved brace-member 65 having handle buttons 66 to bear on coacting buttons 6'? pro iectinp; from the hey-slip 50 (Fig. l) to aid in holding" the outer deslr top 64; firmly in ting position. When the two desl: top members 62 and G l are folded hacl as shown in Fig. 4, they are adapted to be moved rearwardiy into the piano case beneath the writ ing desk compartment with he brace mean her (35 forming a cover for the pi g 'eoirholes and the piano keys at are exposed for manual playing, if desired, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4:.

The operation of ny improved playeriano case construction apparent from the drawings. Figs. 1 and 4 show the po or the piano case and writing-desk when 1e case 15 open and in readin either tor use w th the note-sheet 39 ope mgr the player action or for manual playing by the lieys The two-piece foldahle cover portions a and are folded to 'ether to form the music-rack, and the writing desl; top members 62 and 64: are folded in mutual parallelism and retracted as shown in Fig. i.

lVhcn it is desired to tune the iano or make any repairs to the player action arranged in the lower part of the CL so. the junction-blocks 28 and all may or may not be disconnected by unscrev-ri the screws 4: (Fig. 6}, and the entire des :-top 30 is then swung bacltwardly on the hinges with ti 0 leg 33 forming an upright support Fig. 3).

l p in) is n. ht bat-l :o vertical position, the player action is easily restored to operative Connection vvi h the note- 'heet 39 and tracker-bar 35 mechanism y ioining the junction-blocks 2S and ll as "z 1 Tin e1: in

shown in Fig. 5.

lid;

piano case will be readily appreciated in providing a compact and easily convertible case and writing desk which will occupy a mini mum space or area within the room of a house or apartment, coupled with a player action and note-sheet-tracker mechanism housed in separable parts of the case as a whole, whereby the upper desk-top containing the tracker mechanism and connecting tubes may be bodily swung back and held to enable the tuner to have ready access to the tuning-pins without disturbing the proper register of the system of tubing connecting the series of player action pneumatics with the tracker bar. Other devices may be substituted for the tracker mechanism in the upper desk top without departing from my invention, and furthermore an organ or like musical instrument playing action may be used instead of a player-piano action shown as a preferred embodiment, all with the same advantages and economies which I have hereinbefore described.

I claim as my invention:

1. A player-piano case comprising a lower portion containing the player action, an upper portion pivoted to said lower portion to swing backwardly and containing the note sheet'tracker mechanism, and operative connections between the player action and tracle er mechanism permitting said upper portion to be swung backwardly without disturbing said operative connections.

2. A player-piano case comprising alower portion containing manually-operated keys, a writing desk top foldable and slidable within the case and a player action, and an upper desk top pivoted to said lower portion to swing backwardly to expose the top oi": the player action in said lower portion.

A player-piano case comprising a lower portion containing manually-operated keys, a writing desk top foldable and slidable within the case and a player action, and an upper desk top pivoted to said lower portion along its rear top edge to swing backwardly to expose the top of the player action in said lower portion.

4. A player-piano case comprising a lower portion containing manually-operated keys, a writing desk top foldable and slidable within the case and a player action, an upper desk top pivoted to said lower portion to swing backwardly to expose the top of the,

player action in said lower portion, and means for supporting said upper desk top when swung backwardly in substantially horizontal position.

A player-piano case comprising a lower portion containing the player action, an upper portion pivoted to said lower portion and containing the note-sheet-tracker mechanism, and separable tubing systems connecting the player action and tracker mechanism to permit said upper portion to be swung backwardly to expose said player action.

6. A play "piano case comprising a lower portion coi; the player action, an upper portion pivoted to said lower portion and containing the note-sheettracker mechanism, separable tubing systems connecting the player action and tracker mechanism to permit said upper portion to be swung back wardly to expose said player action, and means for supporting said upper desk top when swung backwardly in substantially horiaontal position.

7. A player-piano case comprising a lower portion containing the player action, an upper portion pivoted thereto and containing the note-sheet-tracker mechanism, and'a tubing system comprising separable junctionblocks to maintain collective registration of the indivi? ll tub for the player action and trac 'cechau n.

8. A player-piano case comprising a lower portion containing the player action, an upper portion pivoted thereto along its rear top edge and containing the note-sheet-track er inechani in, and a tubing system comprising separable junction-blocks to maintain collective registration of the individual tubes for the player action. and tracker mechanism.

9. A playe -piano case comprising alower 1 portion containing the player action, an upper portion pivoted thereto along its rear top edge and containing the note-sheet-traeker mechanism, and a tubing system comprisinn separable junction-blocks to maintain the collective position of the individual tubes when said junction-blocks are detached from each other.

10. A player-piano case comprising a lower portion containing; the player action, an upper portion pivoted thereto along its rear top edge and containing the note-sheet-tracker mechanism, and a tubing system comprising separable junction-blocks to maintain the collective position of the individual tubes for the player action and tracker mechanism when the junction-blocks are detached from each other, and a leg hinged to said upper portion to support same in substantially horizontal position.

11. In a player-piano case, a lower portion containing the player action, an upper desk top pivoted thereto to swing backwardly to horizontal position and expose said player action, a note-sheet-tracker mechanism in said upper desk top, a plurality of tubes leadfrom the trac e" to a jiijinction-block, a detachable junction-block in register with said first junction-block, a like plurality of iubes leading from the detachable junctionblock to the player action, and means for holding said jll11CtlO11-blOClIS in registering position.

12. In a player-piano case, a lower portion containing the player action, an upper clesl; top pivoted thereto to swing backwardly to horizontal position and expose said player action, a note-sheet-tracker mechaicl upper desk top, means for supitl upper top in horizontal poion, a plui'ality of tubes leading from the a to a junction-block, a detachable jun ion-block in register with said first like clesl:

junction-block, a plurality of tubes leacl- 111g from the detachable unction-bloel; to the pi: action ancl means 101 holding said junction-blocks in registering position.

WEBSTER E. JANSSEN. 

